Once upon a time I was working at World Cup on the corner of Taos Plaza and a new woman was hired, her name was Suki. She was new to town and I had recently crossed paths with her at the Alley Cantina where she I watched her dance freely like no one was watching in the middle of an empty dance floor. I could not take my eyes off of her, spellbound by her willingness to be so free despite having all eyes in the room on her, like my own. The day she began working at the Cup I had been deemed the person with all of the information to fill her head in order to teach her to be the best Barista she could be. It was July 2005, at the time I had a boyfriend who lived in Seco the day before her training my boyfriend and I enjoyed the Seco 4th of July parade, and that night I got a spider bite on my ankle. I recall noticing the spider bite after it happened and not thinking to much of it, however by the next morning it had started to swell, and by the time Suki and I showed up at the World Cup for the afternoon training shift it was the size of a tennis ball. During the course of our six plus hours my right ankle swelled to the size of a football and Suki insisted on mopping the floor, which in my training routine was something I generally kept until the next closing shift, however this time I could not refuse. Being stubborn and not quick to visit a doctor when in illness I was telling her that I would probably just go home and rest after we were finished. Suki, being the sensitive, aware, and intelligent woman she is, suggested I go to the emergency room. We investigated the bite again and noted that it was starting to look like a volcano with big blue streaks coming down from it. Looking at this grotesque image I knew it was time to go to the hospital. That afternoon was the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship of teaching, and learning from each other.

Suki came to Taos to do a Yoga Teacher Training in Santa Fe, and being an avid skier she intelligently informed herself that Taos Ski Valley would fit her fancy far more than Santa Fe’s terrain. It had been eight years since I was ejected through a windshield, suffered a severe break to my lower back, and taught myself to walk again. Over the course of those many years yoga had been suggested to me, but as I said in my previous story I am stubborn, and I hadn’t gotten around to exploring what yoga was all about by the time Suki arrived. Just like the night at the Alley when she was dancing, over the course of the next few months working with her I noticed Suki was so very vibrant in all she did, her sense of self was strong and secure and she shined like her pearly white teeth behind her wide and friendly smile. It’s another story, perhaps a book of it’s own, to describe how I felt at that time in my life and why I felt that way however, I was not feeling so shiny, and I wanted to know how to feel the way Suki felt. One thing she was doing and had done for most of her life was yoga, and now she was beginning to teach. She invited me to attend her class, I just couldn’t say no. No matter how insecure I was, how afraid I was of not knowing what I was doing, how stubborn I was about my limitations related to my back, I just had to go. Something about Suki’s bright smile and the tenderness with which she treated me from that day with the spider bite said to my fear, “don’t worry, you will be safe.”

I remember that first yoga class, it was in January of 2006. I remember my first down dog, it felt agonizing as my arms shook, then Suki made the invitation to express the posture from the feeling of our hearts. My heart softened immediately remembering it’s desire to be happy, and knowing the space I was in was safe.

Everyone comes to yoga for their own, unique, and personal reasons. Everyone has their own intentions, motives, and desires of what they wish to get out of the practice. Though eight years have now passed I think back and it is apparent to me my motives are still the same. I wish to be happy and peace-filled while traversing this wild and crazy ride called life. I wish to experience this happiness true to myself, in the fullness of my authentic expression without hesitation or fear of who may be watching. I know that at the heart of sharing this experience of my Spring Yoga Challenge through this blog is this truth of my desire to be courageous while standing bare and vulnerable for the world to see. Along my journey of the past eight years deeply devoted to this practice I have developed all of the skills I use to stand vulnerably as my authentic self with courage most deeply through this beautiful and continuing relationship with my dear teacher, friend, and student Suki. In this truth so much gratitude fills my heart and the joy of this gratitude brings tears to my eyes.

After awaking this morning from dreams that were no where near as delightful as I would have called sweet, I awoke feeling a bit more ill than I would have liked. Stuffy nose and slightly feverish I spent the morning quietly, took a walk with my dog, enjoyed fresh air and decided that it was the time to finish this journey I set myself upon. If I had not challenged myself to complete the task by the 30th of April I would not have gone to class today, however, stubborn old me made my way over to Shree at noon to see my dear beloved teacher.

Suki guided us through beautiful asana of deep hip flexing and twists to sooth our nervous system and help us to drop more deeply into the quiet calm fibers of our being in order to bring us ease in the wild and voracious wind of the past couple days. I silently acknowledged to myself that I had not felt to shaken by the wind and appreciated this inner calm was a sweet benefit of all of this yoga I have been doing. Suki remarked on the quality of the wind being like the quality of our mind often blowing, sometimes blustering, and providing the potential to create a constant sense of unease. The ultimate teaching she offered her students this afternoon is that yoga’s purpose is to quiet the mind stuff, to calm the winds of blustering thoughts so we may enjoy the ever present well of inner peace. As always, I found myself returning from Savasana with the winged expression of joy, gratitude, and love for this magnificent teacher rising from the well of peace in my heart.

Being an owner of Shree Yoga limits the possibility of being rewarded in the most fabulous ways our students are rewarded materially by use for completing classes 7, 14, and 21 of the Spring Yoga Challenge. Yet, the rewards of practicing regularly are not restricted from my experience and I have experienced many. Through the calm diving into the well of my grieving heart, to the equanimity experienced in the ease I feel when the wind blows wild outside, and all the other resonances of my energetic and physical body and tastes of riches in my free spirit and open heart between, I have been rewarded.

Almost a decade ago this powerful relationship of friendship and studentship began, it has in itself multiplied into many aspects of my life and ever continues to bring me more joy. I do not know if Suki knew I would be attending her class today, however, she brought me a gift, an edible treat of powerful super-foods we discovered on our journey to Maui together a few years ago, Happy Balls. After class I delightfully devoured my happy ball and began to sing from the truest joy in my heart…If you are not familiar with Pharrell William’s new song Happy consider this your introduction…

“Clap your hands, if you feel like a room without a roof. Clap your hands if you feel like happiness on the move…Because I’m happy happy happy happy…happy happy happy happy!” You can check out his uber inspiring and creative video here. http://24hoursofhappy.com/

Once upon a time I was bit by a spider feeling as grey as a cloudy day. A wonderful yogi of luster and long fibers guided me out of the gloom and along my way. Now I’m at home and though I’m alone I’m as happy as I could be. Knowing inside me is all I will ever need to be willing, courageous, and free.

If you have been keeping up with me along this journey I thank you for sharing it with me. It is my deep belief that the more we share of our experiences the narrower we bring the gap of separation between us and feeling alone in our suffering, or as I like to call it, being human.

There is still one more day to dive in and get your feet wet on your own magical Spring Yoga Challenge. Yes it will be difficult in more ways than one. Yes it will require commitment and tenacity. Yes it will deepen the quality of joy in your life in all of it’s rewards. Stop by Shree for tonight’s 5:30 class or tomorrow’s, 7:30 am, 9:30 am, Noon and 5:30pm classes to begin.

In the old days class twenty would have marked the moment of crossing the finish line of the Spring or Autumn Yoga Challenge at Shree Yoga Taos. However in 2014, we decided twenty wasn’t enough and twenty-one would be an appropriate upping of the ante for those like me who fervently take the plunge regularly. In the old days I would have experienced an elated delight toward the end of class, just like the experience I had this evening when my body made an inner exclamation of and undying love of yoga and being in my body. Unlike challenges past, as I finished class this evening there would not have been just one more class looming in the distance.

Many times in my life I have been asked, “What is it you love about yoga, what brings you back to the mat?” My answer to the question has always been true and despite the many years that have gone by it continues to be the same. “There is always more room”, I answer with confidence and ease. The longer I practice the more often I experience more room in my body even if it is limited in its movement. I experience more room in the energetic body followed by more room in the relaxed quality of my muscles. No matter the spaciousness or limitations of my physical body I find there is always more room in my mind after I practice, less judgement, less criticism, less running around in circles on the same thought, any thought, be it expansive or limiting, dissipates like vapors off a hot cup of tea. Mostly however, the thing I find most appealing is that there is always more room in my heart to love and be loved, to experience joy no matter my physical surroundings, freedoms, or limitations. This spaciousness in my heart translates directly to my spirit which always feels after a yoga practice unlimited in its expansion, unlimited in its knowing, unlimited in awareness of time and space, unlimited in it’s eternal presence and connection with the eternal heart of all hearts. Even if my awareness of this radical unlimited spaciousness of my spirit is only for just a tenth of a second, I have the great joy of experiencing it every time I come to my mat.

When I was doing my yoga teacher training my teacher Bea Doyle so brilliantly said, “It does not matter what type of yoga you practice, it is ultimately a spiritual practice. A student may say that’s not for me and align them self to a rigorous physical practice with a teacher who never touches on the spiritual aspect of the yoga. However, it is inevitable they will find themselves asking “does this serve me?”, and no matter the answer, the question itself is spiritually based.” Bea calls this “the back door approach.” Bea is a remarkable teacher who has a subtle way of including the spiritual qualities of the practice without ever sounding dogmatic or off putting. Perhaps that is because she was a math teacher for twenty years? I feel so fortunate to honor her as my teacher and I often hear her wise and intelligent voice in my head, as well as in other teachers at Shree who have also studied with her. Like Bea, I do my best to bring the spiritual aspects to the classes I teach, however I know I am not as subtle about it as she is, being that subtle wouldn’t suit me as it would not be authentic. Authenticity is another valuable teaching I learned in her spacious and beautiful studio Bhava Yoga on Central in Albuquerque, authenticity, spirituality, asana, spaciousness, how to string instructions together, and so much more.

Now it’s been five years since I finished that teacher training, five years since Shree opened it’s doors, five years of regular teaching which amounts to thousands of hours, maybe seven yoga challenges including autumn and spring, and countless hours of time on my mat at home, in class, and elsewhere. Tonight as I was rising into locust pose (Salabasana), a pose that for all these years of practice has not only alluded me, but also brought that discomforted “why am I doing this?” question to mind, I felt surprisingly and amazingly good. “Ah, I love yoga!” exclaimed my body as we repeated the pose and an old mystery became clear. “Ah, I love that there is always more room.” I reminded myself to mark that moment as an important one on my path of always learning, and like the invitations of my teacher suggested, I moved on.

This evening I attended Liz’s 5:30-7:00 pm class knowing it would be subbed by Doug Gilnet. In this challenge I have made a concerted effort to get to all the wonderful teachers at Shree’s classes. With the exception of Kelly who is out of town, I have been successful. Class was a perfectly paced slow flow of back bends and forward bends. With my new awareness of the high point of my hip, and the ever changing strength and flexibility of my muscles through this winding yoga journey I felt really really great through tonight’s entire practice. Music is my favorite drug and in my world always makes life more delightful, for his class Doug offered his students a really gentle mix of beautiful music to support our time on the mat. Traditionally yoga was taught by men, I find the quality of a mans voice while teaching yoga to be inspiring, steadfast, secure, and supportive, and Doug’s voice fits this description. Doug generally teaches at Shree on Monday afternoon’s from 3:30-5:00 pm, he also heads the yoga program at Ojo Caliente, where he can be found Tuesday through Friday should you desire to take yourself on a really nice personal yoga and soak retreat. However you find your way I highly recommend attending Doug’s class, I am confident you will leave like everyone left class tonight, calm with a peaceful serenity across your face.

Now, as darkness begins to blanket this magical town I so fortunately call home and I contemplate the solar eclipse taking place with tonight’s full moon, thinking this must be the dark side of the moon Pink Floyd spoke of, I restfully reside in my inner light, ever-growing like the expanding universe and the spaciousness of my heart.

One more to go, yet so many more to come.

When a new galaxy comes into creation do you think perhaps the conscious intelligence that breaths us all ever states “just one more”? Who knows? I know, I don’t know the answer to that question, yet the universe continues to expand, as does my heart.

With love from my big spacious heart, and the ever expanding curiosity of my spirit and mind, good night, sweet dreams, in joy,

When I was a student in High School I had a teacher who loved the phrase “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” Though there is truth to this phrase I could never get my mind beyond the image of a skinned cat, or why anyone would want to skin a cat in the first place. I understand why my teacher used this phrase so frequently, she really wanted us to comprehend and understand perspective and the difference in perspective from person to person. Over the years, and especially now as a teacher myself I do my best to explain the teaching of multiple perspectives without using this phrase, however, I like Ms. J. have a pension for the skinning of the cat metaphor.

Today I arrived at Shree to attend Doug’s 3:30 pm Hatha Flow class and was pleasantly surprised to find Monica there to sub as Doug is in France. I have attended a class of Doug’s before and very much enjoyed it, so I like most regular students to any class would be, found myself a little out of place. Finding a sub when you were expecting someone else can be unnerving. Some studios notify their students of subs beforehand because this experience of finding the surprise sub can really upset some students. I personally believe that there is always something of value to uncover in any yoga class, or life scenario for that matter, and in this willingness is an opportunity to enjoy the surprise and the excitement of the new world of a substitute yoga teacher. As a matter of fact Suki and I both agreed that this is an excellent yoga practice, the practice of openness and willingness, and for that reason we do not notify our students beforehand of subbed classes, if a teacher wishes to do that it is based on their perspective.

Today marked class number seven of twenty-one. My body has reminded me throughout the day that it has done a lot of moving this week. I am sore between my shoulders and in my arms, my neck feels more open than it has in months as do my hips, and I have been sleeping one to two hours more than my usual amount for the last few nights. After a night of wild dreams I awoke this morning with a smile and a deep feeling of ease and happiness, a nice respite from the sorrow of this past week.

At noon I joined what felt like all of Taos for Clint’s yoga hour class. It was, and always is, so much fun to do yoga in a full room, and today I think there were more than twenty-five of us. When the space is full of bodies the energy is higher and deeply palpable. As an owner of the studio, a full to the brim class is also a testament to the value of the offerings of our small business and the continued excellence of teaching at Shree, which brings me deep gratitude.

I love attending Clint’s classes. I love attending any yoga class really, and all have something of value to offer, however Clint’s voice is like listening to the voice of my deepest conscience, which I guess says something about me. I find the low tone of his voice to be sweetly soothing to my nerves and his insights touch my heart like the warmest hug. Clint opened class today with a parable, “The student asked the teacher, ‘When will I master this practice?’ The teacher said, ‘You will never master this practice’.” Clint added, “nor will you master life”. For life is always changing, and like the practice, one does not need to master it to benefit from it and enjoy it’s rewards.

Sustained practice over a long time enables one to effectively execute actions and responses that empower oneself and others. This is the fundamental purpose of yoga, the Spring Yoga Challenge, and any practice that one disciplines themselves to. The reward is not in mastering the practice, rather it is in finding ones way back to authenticity and alignment with ones highest morals and values when one has miss-stepped. The reward is in knowing the difference between, and executing the action of, respondability versus reactivity. Respondability happens when you are aware of your ability to choose your response to any given situation, and to choose the next right thing, the best possible choice, that which takes you to your fullest most radiant version of self right now. The practice, whatever it may be, allows the opportunity to apply the successful use of the tools learned in that discipline to enable and support your highest good in action, be it plank, handstand, compassion, or forgiveness, etc. Perhaps a level of mastery may not be reached however, in the effectiveness of your skillful action you can experience personal growth and the joy of immeasurable reward.

Though class this afternoon was basic and simple in its physical practice, there was an extremely advanced teaching being offered. Bea Doyle, a brilliant yoga teacher in Albuquerque whom I did my teacher training with taught me that an advanced yogi is not someone who can touch their toes to their head. Rather an advanced yogi is someone who can move with skill in action. In yoga asana, skill in action starts with the basics, the foundation of the pose and knowing where the four corners of your hands and feet are. For myself skill in the action of a peaceful and happy life is knowing that I get to choose what I think, and as Clint so kindly reminded us today in class it is also knowing that the breath is our friend, always available for us, always willing to support us and embrace us for as long as we are living.

This afternoon I am deeply grateful to Clint, and all of the spectacular teachers at Shree for being awesome and beautiful in their true humility and skillful, excellent teachings. Tonight, I will think of them all in a hot bath to sooth my aching muscles.